Immaculata High School (New Jersey)

Immaculata High School (also known as Immaculata or IHS) is a private, coeducational, Roman Catholic high school in Somerville, in Somerset County, New Jersey, United States. Founded in 1962, Immaculata High School operates within the Roman Catholic Diocese of Metuchen.[5] The School was also served by a group of Sisters, Servants of the Immaculate Heart of Mary, (from opening through the end of the 2018–19 school year) who lived in a convent attached to the main building of the school. Many of the Sisters taught different subjects in the school's curriculum. Immaculata High School has been accredited by Cognia since 2012.[3]

Immaculata High School
Official seal
Address
240 Mountain Avenue

Somerville
,
(Somerset County)
,
New Jersey
08876

United States
Coordinates40°34′48″N 74°37′7″W
Information
TypePrivate coed high school
MottoFaith. Scholarship. Service. Friendship.
Religious affiliation(s)Catholic,
Sisters, Servants of the Immaculate Heart of Mary
Established1962
FounderMsgr. Eugene Kelly
DirectorRev. Msgr. Seamus Brennan
PrincipalJoan Silo
Asst. principalsEdward Webber
Faculty51.1 FTEs[1]
Grades9–12
Enrollment466 (as of 2017-18)[1]
Average class size25
Student to teacher ratio9.1:1[1]
Color(s)  Blue
  white[2]
SongUnitas Caritas
Athletics conferenceSkyland Conference
NicknameSpartans[2]
AccreditationCognia[3]
NewspaperThe Spartan Spirit
School fees$300 new / $150 returning (registration)[4]
Tuition$15,000 (2020-21)[4]
Athletic DirectorTom Gambino
Websitewww.immaculatahighschool.org

As of the 2017–18 school year, the school had an enrollment of 466 students and 51.1 classroom teachers (on an FTE basis), for a student–teacher ratio of 9.1:1. The school's student body was 73.0% White, 8.6% Asian, 6.7% Black, 7.5% Hispanic, 0% American Indian / Alaska Native, 0.8% Native Hawaiian / Pacific Islander and 3.9% two or more races.[1]

The program of studies at Immaculata strives to meet the needs of all students in developing their abilities and talents. The curriculum is planned to permit the student to select college preparatory courses, business courses or a combination of both. The objectives of the total curriculum are to impart spiritual, intellectual, cultural, physical, and social values.

Awards, recognition and rankings

During the 1997–98 school year, Immaculata High School was recognized with the Blue Ribbon School Award of Excellence by the United States Department of Education,[6] the highest award an American school can receive.[7][8]

Academics

A total of 132 credits are necessary for graduation. This includes Theology, which is required each year at Immaculata High School. Students must select six major subjects yearly. Prerequisites for upper-level courses are determined by the respective departments and must be met for entry into those respective courses. These courses help to not only build the students knowledge of the world but to also give them a broad overview of topics that could help them better prepare for their intended major in higher education.[9]

Advanced Placement (AP) program courses are available in AP English Language and Composition, AP English Literature and Composition, AP United States History, AP Spanish Language, AP Biology, AP Chemistry, AP Physics, AP Calculus, AP French Language, AP Computer Science A, AP Capstone, AP Music Theory, AP European History and AP Art History. In addition, Honors courses are offered to students in English, French, Spanish, Mathematics, Science, and History.

Spartan Spirit

Spartan Spirit is an annual activity in which each class has to develop a theme based on their class color. Seniors are Blue, Juniors are Red, Sophomores are Yellow, and Freshmen are Green. Students develop skits, cheers, and decorations based on their class theme. The festivities conclude with Spartan Spirit Game Night, where students participate in relay races and present their skits and cheers. In addition to the games, students also earn points for their class based on the number of students who attend per class, spirit, attitude, sportsmanship, and overall theme. The class with the most points wins a casual dress day for their class; all other classes must report in their uniforms.

Media Center

The Media Center is available for use as a quiet area for writing, research, reading, and other appropriate activities. Collaboration and group study activities may take place in the facility. It has many great books and participates in the inter-library loan program, which allows books to be borrowed from other Central Jersey High School libraries. Students are allowed to use the library before school, after school, during lunch periods, and during study periods.

Athletics

The Immaculata Spartans[2] compete in the Skyland Conference, which is comprised of public and parochial high schools in Hunterdon, Somerset and Warren counties in west Central Jersey and operates under the supervision of the New Jersey State Interscholastic Athletic Association.[10] With 354 students in grades 10–12, the school was classified by the NJSIAA for the 2019–20 school year as Non-Public B for most athletic competition purposes, which included schools with an enrollment of 37 to 366 students in that grade range (equivalent to Group I for public schools).[11] The school was classified by the NJSIAA as Non-Public Group II for football for 2018–2020.[12] Immaculata's school colors are blue and white.[2]

Interscholastic sports offered at Immaculata include:[2]

The 1981 softball team finished the season with a 23-5-1 record after winning the Group I state title with a 2-0 one-hitter against Becton Regional High School in the championship game.[13][14]

The football team won the Non-Public B North state sectional championships in 1984 and 1985, and won in Non-Public Group II in 1994 and in Non-Public Group III in 2006; the team appeared in the state finals on six other occasions (1998, 2001, 2007, 2008, 2009, 2012).[15] The 1994 team finished the season with a 10-1 record after winning the Non-Public II title with a 27–7 win in the group finals against Delbarton School.[16][17] In 2006, Immaculata's football team faced Delbarton in the Non-Public Group III final at Rutgers University, winning 22–14, and finishing the season with a record of 12–0, the first team in school history to finish their season with 12 wins, and were ranked in the top 5 in the state by various Top 20 polls.[18][19][20]

Pierce G. Frauenheim coached the Spartans since the high school formed a team in 1966 through the 2012 season. Frauenheim coached his 400th career game on November 17, 2006, when the Spartans defeated Holy Spirit High School in the NJSIAA semifinals by a score of 35–6.[21] In January 2013, John Hack, assistant coach and 2000 graduate of the school, was named Immaculata's head football coach after Frauenheim's retirement. Frauenheim had served as head football coach for 47 years, starting when the school opened in 1962, finishing with four state titles and an overall record of 332–137–2.[22]

Since 1978, the Spartan football team has not had a losing season. The Spartans won 23 consecutive games in the 2006–2007 seasons (12 in 2006, 11 in 2007), the longest streak in team history, before losing in the NJSIAA Non-Public Group III state final by a score of 26–13 to Holy Spirit High School on December 1, 2007, at Rutgers University.[23]

The girls' basketball team won the Non-Public Group B state championship in 1987, against runner-up Immaculate Conception High School of Montclair.[24]

The baseball team won the Non-Public B state championship in 1995 (defeating Gloucester Catholic High School in the tournament final) and won the Non-Public A title in 2010 (vs. St. Joseph High School).[25] The 2010 team finished the season 22–5 after coming back from a 5–1 seventh-inning deficit to tie the game and then win the Non-Public A title with a 7–5 walk-off win in extra innings against St. Joseph in the championship game.[26] The team has won the Somerset County Tournament in 1991, 1994, 1997–2002, 2004, 2006-2008 and 2018; the 13 titles (through 2018) are the most in the tournament's history since it was established in 1973.[27]

The boys' lacrosse team won the Non-Public B state championship in 2007 (vs. Pingry School), 2009 and 2010 (vs. Pingry both years), 2011 (vs. Montclair Kimberley Academy) and 2014 (vs. Morristown-Beard School).[28]

The boys basketball team won the Non-Public Group A title in 2008 vs. Camden Catholic High School and in 2009 vs. Christian Brothers Academy.[29] The 2009 team won the program's second consecutive Non-Public A title with a 61–50 win against Christian Brothers at the Ritacco Center in Toms River.[30]

The bowling team won the Group I state championship in 2014.[31]

The boys indoor track team won the Non-Public B state championship in 2020.[32]

Clubs

The school has many clubs including foreign language clubs, drama, various student outreach programs through campus ministry, and spring track.

Marching band

The Immaculata High School Spartan Marching Band is one of the cornerstones of the school, consisting of over 90 wind, percussion and color guard members. The band performs at all school football games and competes in United States Scholastic Band Association (USSBA) competitions in the New Jersey area. Among the many accolades the band has achieved are: marching in the 1989 Presidential Inaugural Parade in Washington DC, and traveling to Canada, Virginia, and Florida, and all over the Northeastern United States. In 2008, the band placed first in USSBA National Competition at the Annapolis Naval Academy winning Best Music, Percussion, Colorguard, and Overall Effect with their show called "Heroes".[33]

In the 2011 competition season, the band won the USSBA (now USBands) Group 6 Open New Jersey state championships with a score of 96.925 with their show "The Planetarium", taking the captions for Best Visual, Best Effect, Best Color Guard, Best Percussion, and The Cadets Award for Excellence. They also placed second in National Competition at the United States Naval Academy in Annapolis with a score of 97.988, winning awards for Best Music, Best Effect, Best Color Guard & Best Percussion.[34]

While celebrating the 50th anniversary of the school during the 2012 season with their "We Are Spartans" show, the band captured the USBands NJ State and National titles. At States, the band took all special awards (Music, Visual, Effect, Color Guard and Percussion) and had a score of 97.375. At National, IHS came out first over 15 band, taking home the Best Music special award and scored a 96.587, narrowly winning the title by .049 points over their nearest competitor.[35]

Track

The track program was recently an "official" club sponsored by the school. Before the 2005–06 school year it was an unofficial team through the cross country runners. The 2005-06 year lead to an official Spring Track Club. Wilt Robinson, the varsity cross country coach, coached the sprinters. Mr. Flannery, a Princeton University alumnus, coached the distance runners. Practice is commonly held throughout Somerville and the track at Raritan Valley Community College. The Spring 2007 season was coached by Mr. Robinson again along with another alumnus.

Drama

Musicals are performed each year at the school in the spring. The shows are directed by Trent Van Doren. In 2017, Immaculata's theater was renovated; it now includes an orchestra pit and updated sound and lighting equipment. Past musicals include:

Model United Nations

The Immaculata Model United Nations program (MUN) is designed to give students an understanding of the structure and functions of the United Nations in New York City. Since 1985, Immaculata High School has won numerous awards at the annual YMCA Model UN Conference in Hershey, Pennsylvania.

In November 2013, former Immaculata volunteer coach Patrick Lott was sentenced to six years in prison after he pleaded guilty to multiple counts of child endangerment and invasion of privacy. Between 2007 and 2011, Lott had videotaped male students in the showers at Immaculata High.[36]

Notable alumni

References
  1. School data for Immaculata High School, National Center for Education Statistics. Accessed December 17, 2019.
  2. Immaculata High School, New Jersey State Interscholastic Athletic Association. Accessed October 20, 2020.
  3. Immaculata High School, Cognia (education). Accessed September 13, 2020.
  4. Tuition Information and Assistance, Immaculata High School. Accessed September 13, 2020.
  5. School Directory, Roman Catholic Diocese of Metuchen. Accessed October 2, 2011.
  6. Blue Ribbon Schools Program: Schools Recognized 1982-1983 through 1999-2002 (PDF), United States Department of Education. Accessed May 11, 2006.
  7. CIBA cited as one of the best by Education Department Archived August 19, 2007, at the Wayback Machine, Journal Inquirer, November 16, 2006. "The Blue Ribbon award is given only to schools that reach the top 10 percent of their state's testing scores over several years or show significant gains in student achievement. It is considered the highest honor a school can achieve."
  8. Viers Mill School Wins Blue Ribbon; School Scored High on Statewide Test; The Washington Post, September 29, 2005. "For their accomplishments, all three schools this month earned the status of Blue Ribbon School, the highest honor the U.S. Education Department can bestow upon a school."
  9. http://www.collegeboard.com/student/plan/high-school/33.html
  10. League & Conference Officers/Affiliated Schools 2020-2021, New Jersey State Interscholastic Athletic Association. Accessed October 20, 2020.
  11. NJSIAA General Public School Classifications 2019–2020, New Jersey State Interscholastic Athletic Association. Accessed November 20, 2020.
  12. NJSIAA Football Public School Classifications 2018–2020, New Jersey State Interscholastic Athletic Association, finalized August 2019. Accessed October 20, 2020.
  13. History of the NJSIAA Softball Championships, New Jersey State Interscholastic Athletic Association. Accessed November 20, 2020.
  14. "Becton beaten, 2-0", Herald News, June 7, 1981. Accessed January 4, 2021, via Newspapers.com. "Building up a ledger of 22-2 with-skeins of six and 12 wins in a row, including three rounds of state competition, the Wildcats captured the North Jersey Section 1 and 2, Group 1 title to be the first Becton squad to make it into the state finals.... 'It feels real good just to be here,' Maver said, speaking for the team after losing 2-0 to Immaculata (23-5-1) of Somerville and Janet Sidotti (one-hitter)."
  15. NJSIAA Football History, New Jersey State Interscholastic Athletic Association. Accessed October 20, 2020.
  16. Davidoff, Ken. "Delbarton Suffers a Painful Finish", The Record, December 4, 1994. Accessed December 10, 2020, via Newspapers.com."Painful as its 27-7 loss to Immaculata in the Parochial Group 2 championship game was, the Green Wave tried to view Saturday's contest as a disappointing finish to a terrific year."
  17. Lewis, Brian. "Heavenly! 'Lata wins state title over Delbarton, 27-7", Courier News, December 4, 1994. Accessed January 24, 2021, via Newspapers.com. "Immaculata used third-quarter guile to break a tie and fourth-quarter grit to break Delbarton. The Spartans (10-1) beat the defending Parochial Group 3 champion Green Wave, 27-7, at Sugarloaf Field, and won their first state title since 1985."
  18. Frezza, Harry Jr. "Playoff Football: Exhilarated Immaculata squad goes back to class", Daily Record (Morristown), December 5, 2006. Accessed June 20, 2012. "About 5,000 of the announced crowd of 8,000 were estimated to be Spartan fans, and what they saw was their team earn a thrilling 22-14 victory over Delbarton in the Non-Public Group III title game."
  19. 2006 Football Tournament - Non-Public, Group III, New Jersey State Interscholastic Athletic Association. Accessed April 28, 2007.
  20. Immaculata 2006 Football Stats by Game, MaxPreps.com. Accessed June 20, 2012.
  21. Staff. "Immaculata had full control in Frauenheim's 400th game", Courier News, November 20, 2006. Accessed October 2, 2011.
  22. Hack to succeed Frauenheim as coach at Immaculata, USA Today, January 15, 2013. Accessed September 13, 2020. "The experience left him wanting more, and after graduating from St. Peter’s in the spring of 2004, Hack returned to his high school alma mater that fall, joining the staff at Immaculata High School, working for coach Pierce Frauenheim. Over the weekend, the 31-year-old Hack was informed by Monsignor Seamus Brennan that he would be the replacement for Frauenheim, the only head football coach of the Spartans since the school opened in 1962.... Hack, a standout lineman and 2000 graduate of Immaculata, was a member of teams that contributed to Frauenheim’s 332-137-2 record in 47 seasons that included four state titles."
  23. Merrill, Everett. "Holy Spirit stifles Immaculata, wins Non-Public, Group 3 championship", The Star-Ledger, December 1, 2007. Accessed June 20, 2012. "During its 23-game winning streak, Immaculata forced turnovers, took advantage of penalties by its opponents and ran the ball with abandon. Yesterday at Rutgers Stadium in Piscataway, the Somerville school was defeated at its own game. Holy Spirit, No. 4 in The Star-Ledger Top 20, intercepted two passes, was penalized just once and rushed for 239 yards en route to a 26-13 triumph in the NJSIAA/Gatorade Non-Public, Group 3 championship."
  24. NJSIAA Group Basketball Past Champions, New Jersey State Interscholastic Athletic Association. Accessed November 20, 2020.
  25. NJSIAA Baseball Championship History, New Jersey State Interscholastic Athletic Association. Accessed November 20, 2020.
  26. Frezza, Harry. "Baseball: Courier News All-Decade teams, 2010-2019", Courier News, September 14, 2020. Accessed December 10, 2020. "2. Immaculata, 2010... Record: 22-5 (Non-Public A champions, Skyland Conference Delaware East champions)... The Spartans trailed St. Joseph 5-1 in the seventh in the state final, but a four-run bottom of the seventh tied it and Joe Sforza’s two-run homer in the bottom of the eighth gave Immaculata a 7-5 win and first state title since 1995. This one was its first in Non-Public A."
  27. "The history of the Somerset County Baseball Tournament (Throwback Photos)", NJ Advance Media for NJ.com, May 8, 2019, updated August 24, 2019. Accessed November 24, 2020.
  28. History of the NJSIAA Boys' Lacrosse Championships, New Jersey State Interscholastic Athletic Association. Accessed November 20, 2020.
  29. NJSIAA Boys Basketball Championship History, New Jersey State Interscholastic Athletic Association. Accessed November 20, 2020.
  30. Murray, Noah K. "Immaculata and St. Patrick win boys basketball titles; St. John Vianney, Paterson Catholic win girls titles", The Star-Ledger, March 15, 2009, updated April 2, 2019. Accessed December 10, 2020. "Immaculata rallied for the second straight year to win the Non-Public A state final and claimed its second title overall Saturday when it defeated Christian Brothers Academy of Lincroft, 61-50, in the leadoff game of the non-public championship quadrupleheader held at the Ritacco Center in Toms River."
  31. History of NJSIAA Boys Bowling Championships, New Jersey State Interscholastic Athletic Association. Accessed November 20, 2020.
  32. NJSIAA Indoor Group Championship History, New Jersey State Interscholastic Athletic Association. Accessed November 20, 2020.
  33. USSBA National Championship Titles Archived May 3, 2007, at the Wayback Machine, United States Scholastic Band Association (USSBA) press release dated November 14, 2006.
  34. USSBA - NATIONAL CHAMPIONSHIP OPEN CLASS (1, 3 & 6) AT ANNAPOLIS, MD, United States Scholastic Band Association. Accessed October 12, 2012.
  35. Staff. "Immaculata remains undefeated with Nationals win", The Messenger-gazette, November 14, 2012. Accessed December 1, 2012. "Immaculata's unique Marching Band, with its tribute to the school's 50th anniversary entitled "We Are Spartans," is undefeated this season. It won all seven competitions, including not only the US Bands State, but also the National Competitions this weekend."
  36. Witchert, Bill. "Former Immaculata High coach sentenced to six years for videotaping boys in showers", NJ Advance Media for NJ.com, November 15, 2013. Accessed August 24, 2015. "In exchange for a six-year prison term, Lott, 56, of Somerville, pleaded guilty in May to multiple counts of child endangerment and invasion of privacy for secretly videotaping boys between 2007 and 2011 in the showers at Immaculata, where he served as a volunteer coach."
  37. Fischer, Jake. "Vanderbilt's Wade Baldwin IV defined by competitiveness, desire to be great", Sports Illustrated, June 22, 2016. Accessed October 25, 2017. "Wade Baldwin IV had starred at Immaculata High School, regularly scoring 30 points on opponents, slicing his way to the rim and draining jumpers well beyond the three-point line.... He hatched a plan to enter the Jersey history books: Joining old friend Karl-Anthony Towns at nearby St. Joseph’s and recruiting fellow local stud Marques Townes to create their own Big Three."
  38. Hirsch, Rod. "Immaculata Football Standout Begins NFL Career with Minnesota Vikings", TAPinto.net, September 3, 2017. Accessed November 5, 2017. "Standout Immaculata High School football player Tashawn Bower has played himself onto the opening day roster of the Minnesota Vikings after a four-year collegiate career at defensive end for perennial powerhouse LSU.... Bower’s family lives in Livingston."
  39. Kuboski, Terry. "Immaculata High School inducts Hall of Fame Class of 2016", Courier News, December 31, 2016. Accessed February 22, 2018. "Rounding out the Class of 2016 was the first inductee to represent the arts: Tom Brislin, Class of 1991, an internationally recognized musician, song writer and producer. Brislin has played with multi-platinum artists, including Meat Loaf, Debbie Harry, and Yes."
  40. Jack Cust Jr. still on cusp of Major League career, Hunterdon County Democrat, accessed April 2, 2007. "Cust's journey didn't seem like it would be this difficult. He starred at Immaculata High School in Somerville under longtime coach Tom Gambino, who said Cust is one of the best players he's ever had in nearly 20 years as the team's skipper."
  41. AnthonyGargiulo, Dartmouth Big Green football. Accessed August 6, 2020. "Hometown: Neshanic Station, N.J.; High School: Immaculata"
  42. Stanmyre, Matthew. "Notre Dame's Theo Riddick feels gratitude toward the family of his best friend", The Star-Ledger, January 6, 2013. Accessed January 5, 2014. "A 5-11, 200-pound senior running back at Notre Dame, Riddick leads the Irish in rushing this season and — with his stop-on-a-dime cuts and blazing speed — became one of the most exciting players in the nation. The Manville native and former Immaculata High School standout leads No. 1 Notre Dame into Monday night's BCS national title game against No. 2 Alabama."
  43. Rogers, Justin. "Lions notes: Theo Riddick honored, Matthew Stafford's wife to judge cheerleading tryouts", mlive.com, June 23, 2016. Accessed October 25, 2017. "Before Detroit Lions running back Theo Riddick was one of the NFL's most dangerous receiving options out of the backfield, and before he was a dual-threat running back and receiver for Notre Dame, he was posting eye-popping numbers for Immaculata high school in Somerville, N.J."
  44. Jay Ryan, The Baseball Cube. Accessed January 13, 2008.
  45. Thomson, Peter. "Ryan, A 9th-round Pick, Moving Up Cubs' Ladder", Orlando Sentinel, September 4, 1994. Accessed July 31, 2015. "'Most of the scouts I spoke with told me that I would probably go (get drafted) somewhere around the second round,' said Ryan, who finished with a 9-1 record this spring for Immaculata High in Somerville, N.J."
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